If you are building a residential, administrative or commercial building, the district or licensing authority will often ask for a traffic study before issuing the permit. This page explains what the study is, when it is needed, what to prepare, and the steps until you receive a report ready to submit.
What is a traffic study?
A traffic study (traffic impact study) is an engineering report on how a new building affects traffic on the surrounding streets: the trips it generates, whether the streets can absorb them, the parking supply required, and the design of the garage access.
Its purpose is to make sure the building does not cause congestion or on-street parking, and that the garage is sufficient and complies with the Egyptian Garage Code.
When is a traffic study required?
- When applying for a building permit for a building that requires a garage or parking.
- Mixed-use buildings (ground-floor shops, office floors, residential floors).
- Administrative, commercial, medical, educational and hotel buildings.
- When changing the use of an existing building or adding floors.
- Requirements vary by governorate, district and project type, so confirm with the authority or ask us.
Documents and information needed
- Project drawings: floor plans for the basement, ground, typical and office floors.
- The site planning certificate (بيان صلاحية).
- The exact address or a Google Maps link.
- Number of floors and units, and the use of each floor.
- The proposed number of garage parking spaces.
Steps to prepare the study
Send drawings and details
Send us the drawings, planning certificate and address, and we reply with the cost and timeline.
Site and boundary roads
We locate the site and define the four surrounding roads and the key intersections.
Areas and trip generation
We calculate net areas per use and the peak-hour trips the project generates.
Traffic counts
We count traffic volumes on the surrounding roads during peak hours.
Analysis and parking
We analyse road capacity and level of service, and calculate the required parking per the Egyptian Garage Code 2024.
Delivery
We deliver the printed study, including site and circulation maps, ready to submit to the authority.
What is in the report?
- Project description, uses and areas.
- Site location map and surrounding roads.
- Traffic count results.
- Trip generation and distribution.
- Level-of-service analysis for roads and intersections.
- Parking calculation and code compliance.
- Garage access and recommendations.
Frequently asked questions
How do I get a traffic study for a building permit in Egypt?
Prepare the building drawings, the planning certificate and the site address, then hire a traffic engineering consultant to carry out the counts, analysis and report. Send us the drawings on WhatsApp to start.
How do I choose a traffic study office in Egypt?
Choose an office specialised in highway and traffic engineering, with experience in building-permit studies and the Egyptian Garage Code. At ECAT every study is supervised by Prof. Dr. Hozayen Ahmed Hozayen, professor at the Faculty of Engineering, Cairo University, specialising in highway, traffic and airport engineering.
What will I receive?
A printed study, ready to submit to the authority.
How long does a traffic study take?
It depends on the project size and number of surrounding roads. We give you an exact timeline with the quote once we see the drawings.
How much does a traffic study cost?
Cost depends on the project's area, uses and the number of roads to count. Fill in the quote form and we will reply with a price.
Do I need real traffic counts?
Yes. The study is based on actual peak-hour volumes on the surrounding roads, which is a core part of the report.
How is the required parking calculated?
Per the Egyptian Garage Code, based on the use of each part of the building and its area or number of units.
Where do you work?
Cairo, Giza and the rest of Egypt, as well as the Middle East.
Last updated: November 2026